Cipher vs 3impact game engines

#1

My intentions are to make a multiuser, persistent world, 3rd person RPG.

I love to code on C++

I´ve played with Torque engine, 3d gamestudio and didn´t liked them becouse if you want to get the juice you have to program with their scripts and buy the other plugins/extencions they sell.
I´ve also tested Crystal space and Ogre but they dont have the tools/infrastructure to make a game and I would spend several months coding or making 3rd party ones work in them. Also they dont have all features as other commercial engines.

So now I am deciding between Cipher and 3impact.
Both have almost same feature levels, are in the same budget and allow me to do all in C++

I plan to implement on RakNet to improve networking and tokamak, newton or ode physics if required.

I hadn´t bought either of them, which do you prefer?
#2

Hiya.

Actually, with 3d Game Studio A6 engine you can buy the SDK for $50 (or free with the Pro version of 3DGS) which allows you to write your own .dll’s for the game (VC++, I think Delphi and .NET is in the works iirc). You might want to give 3dgs another look for that reason, as well as the fact that it has all the tools your artists will need at a minimum (level editor, script editor, model editor).

Level Editor (WED): uses .wmp, .qle, .map
Script Editor (SED): basically, a text editor with built in coloring/context recognition, etc.
Model Editor (MED): import .3ds, .asc, .x and a host of others (.mdl, .md2, etc.)

Thing is, Conitec is constantly “upgrading” the engine, frequently adding some need that only one or two people ask for. Great company, and awesome community.

For “outdoor” type settings Conitec is currently working on implementing Octtree so A6 (or A7) will have BSP/Oct choice.

Just FYI before you write off A6. A6 is, IMHO, a more “artist friendly” engine (re: all the folks that arn’t programmers…like me… :wink: ).

#3

Thanks for the tip.

When I downloaded the A6 demo, it looked very aged and I instantly discaded the a6 gamestudio.

I am giving it a second try testing the extra games and demos i can get that are done on it.

If you like Game studio a6 more than Cipher or 3impact, then vote to other ! :smiley:

#4

Ok…I voted for “Other”. :wink:

3d Game Studio (“A6 Engine”) by Conitec (http://www.conitec.net/a4info.htm) for a couple of reasons.

  1. It’s about as ‘advanced’ as the Quake2 engine with some Quake3 stuff…giving it a wide base for aquiring assets (textures, models, and artists who know how to create stuff for it).

  2. It’s constantly expanding…for free. You only pay for ‘full point’ upgrades. A ‘full point’ for this engine usually comes every 18 months or so (iirc). For a current “forecast” of what is in the works, check out: http://www.conitec.net/forecast.htm

  3. No matter the level of technical expertise of your team, chances are they can all contribute because of the ‘levels’ you can use A6 at. From the completely tech-noob to the artist who sits down and writes his own .dll effect for an exploding wall he want’s to put in his level.

  4. Support from the community. The A6 community is, overall, extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The actual programmers who create A6 are on the forums every day helping out, listening to peoples proglems, etc. Conitec is a great company to deal with.

The drawbacks to this engine is that is currently takes a fair amount of programming savvy to create “mmorpgs” or “persistant gaming worlds”. It can be done, but it will be almost entierly from .dll’s and custom network code. However, Conitec is working on changing this from what I understand.

That said, I’m a sucker for new engines, and between Cipher and 3impact, I think I’d go with Cipher. I like the way it seems to be laid out; very ‘modular’. Then again, I’m more of an ‘artist/level editor’ than programmer, so take that with a grain of salt. :wink:

#5

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.